Bye, Bye Mike Miller: Heat to Use Amnesty Clause

Despite reports that the Miami Heat would not use the NBA's amnesty clause this offseason, several Heat beat reporters are tweeting that Mike Miller's agent has been informed that the veteran would be waived under the rule.

From The Palm Beach Post's Ethan J. Skolnick:

Just said this on @TheTicketMiami: from what I am hearing from multiple sources, the Heat are likely to amnesty Mike Miller today.

The amnesty clause as negotiated under the current CBA allows a team to waive one player each offseason who has been with the team since before the 2011-12 season. That player's salary will not count toward the team's salary cap. Other teams are allowed to claim the player at a reduced rate (with the waiving team still paying the difference between that and his current salary).

Unfortunately for Miller, the move makes dollars and sense for the Miami Heat. Miller has the fourth highest guaranteed salary behind LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. He would have received $12.8 million over the next two seasons.

With the help of ESPN salary guru Nick Silva, we know the Heat are currently looking at a payroll of more than $88 million and are $16.4 million over the luxury-tax threshold. Last season, that would've cost them $16.4 million in tax. In 2013-14, that will cost them nearly $33.6 million in tax.

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If the Heat use the amnesty on Miller, it will save them nearly $17 million in taxes and knock their projected bill down to roughly $16.9 million.

i knew it was gonna be hard to get everyone back. But, so sad to see Miller go... We owe him so much! such a competitor and always, always ready to play no matter what. He will be missed, and who ever gets him is a lucky team. Hope to get him back in a HEAT jersey asap n hopefully he can retire with us.. Thanks for all the real hard work and energy Mike!!!